Iron Sharpens Iron: DR. ROBERT SPINNEY: "ARE YOU LEGALISTIC?: An Examination of Grace, Obedience & Antinomianism"

Monday, December 15, 2008

DR. ROBERT SPINNEY: "ARE YOU LEGALISTIC?: An Examination of Grace, Obedience & Antinomianism"

DR. ROBERT SPINNEY, Assistant Professor of History & Director of Distance Learning at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, VA, will address the theme: "ARE YOU LEGALISTIC?: An Examination of Grace, Obedience & Antinomianism."

Everyone knows that legalism is bad. But what exactly is legalism? Is it legalistic to obey God's laws? Is it legalistic when we obey God too much or too carefully? On the narrow road that leads to eternal life, legalism is the ditch on one side of the road. The ditch on the other side is antinomianism. Determined to avoid misusing God's laws and becoming legalistic, some neglect God's laws altogether and become antinomian. Legalism is bad, but antinomianism is equally bad. Understanding legalism requires that we understand antinomianism, and this interview should help to explain both concepts.

Dr. Robert Spinney was raised a Roman Catholic, but the Lord Jesus Christ saved him by grace through faith alone during his college years. He was introduced to Bible-centered Christianity through Campus Crusade for Christ. Over the years, however, he moved in a theologically Reformed direction. He currently describes himself as a Reformed Baptist who subscribes fully to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.

Dr. Robert Spinney has also taught at Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, and Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN. He has published two academic history books: a comprehensive history of Chicago and a history of Nashville during World War II.

In addition to teaching Dr. Spinney ministered as a pastor for six years at Grace Baptist Church in Hartsville, TN, until 2007, a congregation which belongs to ARBCA: the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America . While pastoring at GBC, the church commissioned him to write numerous ministry-related booklets, among them "Are You Legalistic?: Grace, Obedience & Antinomianism", "Did God Create Sports Also?: Thinking Christianly About Sports", "Peeking Into the Devil’s Playbook: Satan’s Strategies for Tempting Christians to Sin", and "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?: Thinking Biblically About the Problem of Sin in Our World" (see a complete list at http://www.tulipbooks.com/). You can currently order these booklets at Cumberland Valley Bible Book Service .

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